Radio receiver system



C. W. HOUGH May 30, 1933.

RADIO RECEIVER SYSTEM Filed July 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EYRADIO RECEIVER SYSTEM Filed July 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ElE lE DIALREADING P A B C DIAL POSITION 0 50 so 90 120 156 485 210 240" 270 500DHONOGPAPH SPACE EA DIO INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1333 Lanna VPATENT @FFWJE CLINTON W. HOUGH, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WIRED RADIO, INC., NEW

YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATTON OE DELAWARE RADIO RECEIVER. SYSTEMApplication filed. July 14,

My invention pertains in general to radio receivers and specificallyrelates to a radio receiver in which program signals can be derived froma plurality of sources.

The principal object of my invention consists in providing a radioreceiver system for reproducing programs from a multiplicity of programsources.

Another object co npriscs providing a radio receiver system in which aspace radio tuner, a wired radio filter, and an electrical phonographpick-up device can all be selectively connected to a common audiofrequency system.

A further object consists in producing a radio receiver system having asingle movable element for effecting the entire control of an electricalorganization for the selective reception of programs from a multiplicityof different sources.

I accomplish the above desirable objects in a novel radio receiversystem having a single shaft upon which are mounted the rotor plates ofaspace radio tuning condenser system, the switch elements of a wiredradio filter system, and the switching elements for selectivelyconnecting an audio frequency amplifier system to a space radio tuner,to wired radio filter, or to the electrical pick-up unit of aphonograph.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specificationand in which like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the electrical organization of my radioreceiver system;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the mechanical arrangement of the controlorganization of my radio receiversystem;

Fig. 3 is a View of .an indicating dial employed in the organization ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a view of condenser plates as employed in the organizationofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a View of the relative position of cams employed in theorganization of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 to 13 are views of different switches employed in theorganization of Fig. 1;

1931. Serial No. 550,664.

Fig. 14 is a view of a clicker arrangement also employed in theorganization of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of a part of the diagram of Fig. 1; and vFig. 16 is a graphical representation of the sequential relation of theswitching operations in the control of the radio receiver system of myinvention. 1

My invention is directed to providing a radio receiver system employinga centralized control for reception of space radio signals, wired radio.signals, or for reproducing programs from recordings. 7 According to myinvention, I provide a single control unit in the form of a shaft havinga multiplicity of elements mounted thereon for effecting the entirecontrol of a radio organization for reproducing wired radio signals,space radio signals, or program recordings. In the system of myinvention a single audio frequency amplifier system and loud speakerserves for the purpose of amplifying and reproducing programs from anyof the before-mentioned sources.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 1, a spaceradio receiving organization 1 is provided with an antenna 2 and ground3 for reception of space radio signals. The space radio receivingorganization 1 includes space discharge amplifier tubes 4: and 5 and aspace discharge detector tube 6. The input to the space dischargeamplifier tube 1 includes a resonant circuit comprising the inductance 7and variable condenser 8. The input to the space discharge amplifiertube 5 includes a resonant circuit comprising arr inductance 9 andvariable condenser 10. The variable condensers 8 and 10 have their rotorplates mounted upon a common shaft 23 described later. These condensers8 and 10 can be adjusted to render the space radio receivingorganization 1 responsive to a desired space radio program at anyfrequency. The high frequency signals amplified by the space dischargetubes 4 and 5 are demodulated by the space discharge detector tube 6.

A wired radio selective filter system 11 is capacitively connected,through coupling condensers 12, to power lines 13 which carry commercialpower and wired radio programs at a plurality of different carrierfrequencies. The selective filter system 11 is of a type disclosed inthe copending application of Robert D. Duncan, Jr., Serial Number495,823, filed November 15, 1930, and patent of Arthur M. Trogner,1,894,645, issued Jan. 17, 1933. The filter system 11 includes aplurality of inductively coupled resonant circuits each having aplurality of different values of capacitances which can be selectivelyrendered efiective to make the filter system, as a whole, responsive toa predetermined carrier frequency. The related values of thesecapacitances are arranged in groups 14, 15, and 16 which haveconnections to groups of contact brushes 17, 18, and 19, respectively.These groups of contact brushes 17, 18, and 19 are adapted forengagement with metallic rams 20, 21, and 22, respectively. The cams 20,21, and 22 are all electrically connected to one side of the filtercircuit as shown. These cams are mounted upon the shaft 23 and areangularly displaced from one another so that the cams 20, 21, and 22sequentially engage with their respective groups of contact rushes 17,18, and 19. The output of filter 11 is directed to a demodulation device24 comprising a space discharge detector tube 25 and grid leak andcondenser 26.

An audio frequency amplifier 28 is provided including space dischargeamplifier tubes 29 and 30. An iron core transformer is provided having aprimary winding 31 and a secondary winding 32 which is connected to theinput of the space discharge tube 29. Another iron core transformercomprising a primary winding 33 and a secondary winding 34 is providedbetween the two space discharge tubes 29 and as shown. A translatingdevice comprising a loud speaker 35 is connected to the secondarywinding 36 of another iron core transformer having a primary winding 37which is connected in the output circuit of the space dischargeamplifier tube 30.

power pact 38 is provided with input connections. from terminals 39, tothe power lines 13. The power pact 38 comprises means for deriving anodevoltage and filament current, for the operation of space dischargetubes, from commercial power lines and includes a thermionic rectifierassociated with a suitable transformer in a well known arrangement.Filament current is available at the terminals 54 and anode voltage isavailable at the terminals 55. It will be understood that in theoperation of my system negative grid biasing voltage is provided for theoperation of the amplifier tubes. The biasing voltage connections, whichare well known, are omitted for sake of simplicity in the figurSwitching means 27 are provided under control of the shaft 23 and have amechanical arrangement more fully described later. Fig. 15 is anenlarged View of the switching means 27 of Fig. Referring to Fig. 15,the contact pair 40 is positioned for operation under control of a cammounted upon the shaft 23. The contact pairs 42 and 43 are positionedfor operation under control of cams 44 and 45, respectively, alsomounted upon the shaft 23. Contact pairs 46 and 47 are positioned foroperation under control of cams 48 and 49 mounted on the shaft 23, whilecontact pairs 50 and 51 are positioned for operation under control ofcams 52 and 53 mounted on the shaft 23. Another contact pair 56 ispositioned for operation under control of another cam 57 mounted. on theshaft 23.

The imput circuit to the terminals 39 of power pack 38 has connectionsto the contact pair 56 whereby cam 57, in effect, controls the operationof the power pack 38. One of the terminals 54 is connected to onecontact of each of the contact pairs 50 and 51. The other of theterminals 54 is connected to all of the filaments of the space dischargetubes of my system. The remaining contact of contact pair 50 isconnected to space discharge detector tube 25, while the remainingcontact of contact pair 51 is connected to space discharge tubes 4, 5,and 6. It will be evident, then, that the contact pair 50 controls thefilament current supply to space discharge detector tube 25, while thecontact pair 51 controls the filament current supply to the spacedischarge tubes 4, 5, and 6.

One of the terminals of the power pack 38 is connected to one contacteach of the contact pairs 46 and 47. The other terminal 55 is connectedto all of the space discharge tubes in my system. The remaining contactof the contact pair 46 is connected to the anode circuit of spacedischar e detector tube 25, while the remaining contact of the contactpair 47 is connected to the anode circuits of the spa e discharge tubes4, 5, and 6. It will be evident, then, that the contact pair 46 controlsthe anode voltage to the space discharge tube 25, while the contact pair47 controls the anode voltage to the space discharge tubes 4, 5, and 6.

The space discharge amplifier tubes 29 and 30 derive filament currentand anode voltage directly from the power pack 38 as shown.

The anode of space discharge detector tube 25 is connected to one of thecontacts of contact pair 40, while the anode of space discharge detectortube 6 is connected to one of the contacts of contact pair 43. Theelectrical pick-up device 90, of an automatic phonograph 91, has aconnection to one of the contacts of the contact pair 42. The remainingcontacts of the contact pairs 40, 42,

and 43 are all connected to one side of the primary winding 31 of theinput transformer in the audio frequency amplifier system 28. The otherside of the primary winding 31 is commonly connected to the anode oroutput circuits of the space discharge detector tubes 25 and 6, and alsoto the electrical pick-up device 90. It'will now be evident that thecontact pair 40 serves to connect the output circuit of space dischargedetector tube 25 to the audio frequency ainplifier system 28, while thecontact pair 43 serves to connect the output circuit of the spacedischarge detector tube 6 to the amplifier 28, and the contact pair42serres to connect the electrical pick-up device 57 to the amplifiersystem 28.

The mechanical construction of the switching elements of my radioreceiver sy tem will now be considered. 7

The shaft 23 is journaled between the panel 60 and end support 61mounted upon the base member 62. A dial 63 is rigidly mounted on theshaft 23 at a point adjacent the panel 60. An aperture 64 is provided inthe panel 60 which registers with indicia engraved on the dial 63. Thisindicia com prises the designations Off, P, A, B, C and a plurality ofradial lines extending approximately 180 around. the dial as shown inFig. 3. Fig. 4 is an end view of the rotor and stator plates of thevariable condensers 8 and 10. Insulating bushings 67, 68, and 69 in theshaft 23 electrically separate the rotor plates of the Variablecondensers 8 and 10. A knob 70 is provided on the shaft 23 for effectingmanual rotation thereof.

The metallic cams 20, 21, and 22 are mounted in tandem on the shaft 23but are angularly displaced from each other for sequential engagementwith the contact brushes 17, 18, and 19 as shown in Fig. 5. Thesecontact brushes 17, 18, and 19 are secured to an insulating panel 71mounted on spacers secured to the base member 62. The groups ofcondensers 14, 15, and 16 are positioned on the base member 62 directlybelow their respective contact brushes of the groups 17, 18, and 19.

The cams 41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, and 57 are all composed ofinsulating material and mounted in tandem on the shaft 23 between thecam 22 and end support 61. These cams are all of special configurationfor causing their respective contact pairs to close and open atpredetermined times with respect to the rotation of the dial 63.

Fig. 6 shows the construction of cam 41 and the contact pair 40 mountedon insulating panel 71. The contact pair 40 comprises spring members,one of which presses against the periphery of the cam 41. hen theprojecting portion of the cam 41 engages with the aforementioned springmemher, the contact pair 40 is electrically closed. The Figs. 7 to 13show the construction of cams 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, and 57 and thecontact springs 42, 43, 46, 47, 50, 51, and 56, respectively, and aresimilar to the showing of Fig. 6 except for the configuration of thecams. Inthe position shown in Figs. 6 to 13 all of the contact pairs areopen. This corresponds to a position of the dial 63 in which thedesignation Off registers with the index aperture 64 in panel 60. Theexact time relation of the operation of all the elements mounted uponthe shaft 23 with respect to the dial 63 may be ascertained from Fig.16. The table of Fig. .16 shows the time relation of the switchingoperations for one rotation of the dial 63. The hatched portions of thetable indicate the relative period during which a particular elementoperates to perform an electrical function in the circuits of my system.It will be understood that the configuration or formation of the cams41, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, and 57 is such as to produce the operationsas indicated in the table of Fig. 14.

A. clicker disk 73 is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 23 adjacent the endsupport 61 and is provided with five peripheral indents corresponding tothe position Off, P, A, B, and C of the dial 63. A detent spring 74 ismounted on a pillar 75 secured to the end support 61 and engages withthemdents of the disk 73.

The base member 62 is intended to be incorporated in a radio cabinetwhich houses the electrical components diagrammatically depicted inFig. 1. The entire operation of the radio receiver system as describedin the foregoing can then be effected by the single manual control knob70 in the following manner. 7

When the dial 63 is in a position showing the designation Off at theaperture 64, the power supply to the power pack 38 will be interruptedby the contact pair 56 under control of cam 57. If the dial 63 isrotated in a counter-clockwise direction to a position such that thedesignation P registers with the aperture 64, the cam 57 will cause thecontact pair 56 to complete the input power supply circuit to the powerpack 38 thereby energizing the audio frequency amplifying system 28.Simultaneously, the cam 44 will cause the contact pair 42 to connect theelectrical pick-up device 90 to the audio frequency amplifier 28 wherebythe translating device 35 will reproduce a desired program from arecording of the phonograph 91.

vVhen the dial 63 is further rotated in a counter-clockwise directionuntil the designation A registers with the aperture 64, the cam 48 willcause the contact pair 46 to complete a circuit from the terminals 55 ofthe power pack to the anode circuit of the space discharge detector tube25 to supply anode voltage thereto. At the same time, the cam 52 willclose the contact pair 50 to supply filament current to the'spacedischarge detector tube 25. Simultaneously with the preceding operation,the cam 41 will close contact pair 40 which connects the output circuitof space discharge detector tube 25'to the input of the audio frequencyamplifier 28. The cam 20 will engage with the group of contact brushes17 whereby the wired radio filter system 11 will be responsive to awired radio program at a predetermined carrier frequency which,demodulated by the space discharge tube 25, will be amplified by theaudio frequency amplifier 28 and reproduced by the loud speaker 25.

Further movement of the dial 625 in a counter-clockwise direction willcause the designation B to register with the aperture 64 whereby the cam20 will move out of engagement with the group of contact brushes 17 andthe cam 21 will engage with the group of contact brushes 18 and thewired radio filter system 11 will then be responsive to a differentprogram at another carrier frequency. The other circuit conditions inthe immediately preceding steps will still prevail.

The dial 63 may be further moved in a clockwise direction to causedesignation 0 to register with the aperture 64; whereby cam 22 willengage with the group of contact brushes 19 to cause the wired radiofilter system 11 to be responsive to a still different wired radioprogram at another carrier frequency.

When the dial 68 is rotated into position such that the radial linesthereon begin to register with the aperture 64, the cam 11 will causethe contact pair 40 to move into an open position thereby disconnectingthe output circuit of the space discharge detector tube 25 from theinput of the audio frequency amplifier system 28. At the same time, thecam 48 will be moved into a position to open the contact pair 46, andthe cam 49 will be in a position to close contact pair 47 therebycompleting a circuit from the anode voltage terminals 55 to the anodecircuits of the space discharge tubes 4, 5, and 6 to supply anodevoltage thereto. Similarly, the cam 52 will open contact pair 50, andcam 53 will close contact pair 51 to complete a circuit to supplyfilament current to the space discharge tubes 4, 5, and 6.Simultaneously with the foregoing operations the cam 45 will close thecontact pair l3 to complete a circuit from the output of space dischargedetector tube 6 to the audio frequency amplifier system 28. The rotorplates of the variable condensers 8 and 10 will now be in mesh with thestator plates whereby the shaft 23 may be rotated for approximately 180to tune the resonant circuits 78, and 910 to any desired space radiobroadcast frequency, while maintaining the proper circuit conditions forthe operation of the space radio receiver organi zation 1. Space radiosignals at any selected frequency will then be amplified by the spacedischarge amplifier tubes 4 and 5 and demodulated by the space dischargedetector tube 6. The output of space discharge detector tube 6 isdirected through the audio frequency amplifier system 28 and thence tothe loud speaker 85 for program reproduction. The dial 63 can now berotated to any desired position for space radio reception, wired radioreception, or for reproduction of programs from recordings, or theentire radio receiving system can be shut down by turning the dial totheOff position.

It will now be obvious that the system of my invention provides aunified radio receiver in which a single manual knob effects the controlof an electrical organization for the reception and reproduction ofprograms from a plurality of different sources. Although I have shown apreferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited theretoexcept insofar as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new and original and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the Jnited States is:

1. A radio receiver system comprising, a space radio receivingorganization having variable condensers therein, a wired radio receivingorganization having fixed condensers therein, a plurality of switchesfor rendering selected ones of said fixed condensers effective in saidwired radio receiving organization, and a single mechanical element forcontrolling said variable condensers and said switches.

2. A radio receiver system comprising, a space radio receiverorganization having variable condensers, a wired radio filter systemhaving a plurality of fixed condensers, a plurality of switchingelements for rendering selected groups of said fixed condenserseffective in said filter, and mechanical means for simultaneously movingsaid variable condensers and said switching elements.

3. A radio receiver system comprising, a radio receiving organizationhaving variable condensers therein, a second radio receivingorganization having fixed condensers therein, switching elements forrendering said fiXed condensers effective in said second radio receivingorganization, a translating device and circuit connected thereto, aswitch for conn cting said circuit to either of said radio receivingorganizations, and common mechanical means for controlling the operationof said variable condensers, said switching elements, and said lastmentioned switch.

4. A. radio receiver system comprising, a

space radio receiving organization having condenser plates mounted upona shaft, a wired radio filter system having fixed condensers controlledby means mounted upon said shaft, an amplifier system and a switchcontrolled by said shaft for connecting said amplifier system to saidspace radio receiving organization or to said wired radio filter.

5. A radio receiver system comprising, a space radio receivingorganization having variable condensers mounted on a shaft, a wiredradio filter system having contact members operated by cams mounted intandem on said shaft, an electrical pick-up device, an audio frequencycircuit, switching means for connecting said audio frequency circuit tosaid pick-up device, to said space radio receiving organization, or tosaid wired radio receiving organization, and cams mounted on said shaftfor operating said switching means.

CLINTON W. HOUGH.

